Supercell expands in London with full acquisition of Space Ape

Supercell, the renowned Finnish mobile games studio known for titles like Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars, has announced the opening of a new office in London and the complete acquisition of the UK-based game developer Space Ape. This strategic expansion marks Supercell’s first UK office, joining its network of international branches in Helsinki, Shanghai, Seoul, and San Francisco. The London team will contribute to both new projects and the development of existing live service games, including Squad Busters, a recent release in Supercell’s portfolio.

Supercell’s CEO, Ilkka Paananen, highlighted the significance of the London expansion, stating, “We believe the best teams create the best games, so we are really excited to find our place within London’s incredibly talented games ecosystem by joining forces with Space Ape. This move will bring in amazing new colleagues and make our games teams even stronger. With the best talent globally, we move faster on our mission of creating great games that as many people as possible play for years and that are remembered forever.”

Supercell has had a long-standing relationship with Space Ape, initially acquiring a 62% stake in the studio in 2017 for $55.8 million. This investment was later increased to 75% in 2022 with an additional $37 million. Now, Supercell is set to fully integrate Space Ape into its company, with the acquisition expected to be completed by spring 2025. The terms of this final acquisition phase have not been disclosed, but the move strengthens Supercell’s position in London, where the company aims to tap into one of the world’s most vibrant gaming talent pools.

Space Ape’s CEO, John Earner, expressed enthusiasm about this deepened partnership, saying, “We’ve loved working closely with Supercell for many years, and this move is the next stage in that partnership. I am so proud of Space Ape’s contribution to the gaming industry over the last twelve years. I am looking forward to this next step in our evolution as part of the Supercell team.”